Knights of St. Christopher

10 - Smell Of Terror

"You've got to be kidding me..." Lilith commented as Alyssa walked down the stairs. Lilith looked at Jack "How long has she been here?" She asked. Jack stared up into his brain "Roughly a week or two" He replied. Lilith's eyes widened "The only way Rene can escape is if the grand magus is to open the portal, and someone goes in and gets her" She informed. Randall stood up in a flash "I'll go in and get her" He said with confidence. Lilith shook her head "Knowing you, you'll both get stuck there". Randall mocked her then folded his arms. Hamish downed his drink "I'll do it" He offered. Lilith frowned "Are you sure?" She asked concerned. Jack looked back and forth at the two "Has this happened before?" He asked. Hamish looked at Lilith who stared back at him. Hamish sighed "Cassie, she was hearing the voices before her death. I want to at least save someone from that damned book" He informed. 

Jack frowned "Sorry to hear". Hamish shook it off "So what's the plan?" He asked Alyssa who now was standing beside Jack. Alyssa placed her hands by her side "Well, we start by asking the grand magus" She replied. 

They entered the temple, and the grand magus watched as they entered as a pack. She closed her book and stared at the group "What do you want now? I have already dealt with Mr Michaelson" She asked with an annoyed expression. Alyssa stepped forward "Grand magus, Rene was pulled into the book of realms, and we were wondering if you could pull her out?" She asked. The grand magus folded her arms "If Rene is still alive of course" She stated. Randall's eyes widened "Pardon?" He asked as he leant forward. The grand magus looked towards Randall "The book of realms is filled with demons. She could be dead this very second" She informed. Randall's face turned white as he morphed back into the pack. 

Rene stepped towards the altar and gazed into the red liquid. The liquid was moving. Rene moved backwards with a look of disgust "That's not right" She stated to herself. Suddenly chains wrapped around both of her hands, elevating her into the air. She screamed with pain as she felt the pressure in both her shoulder blades.

Randall winced and rotated his shoulder. Jack looked at him "You okay?" He asked. Randall shook his head "No. Somethings wrong. A striking pain just struck my arm, I think it's Rene" He replied. Randall looked up "How quick can you open the portal?" He asked. The grand magus shrugged "Seconds maybe" She replied. Randall sighed with relief "Good, cause I think Rene's currently in pain" He notified. The grand magus furrowed "And how do you know that?" She asked. Hamish answered, "They're linked". 

Rene struggled to keep herself together. Suddenly, a man appeared. He wore a dark robe, face hidden within the shadow of the hood. He lowered his hood, he had slicked back, blonde hair with bright eyes. Rene cried "Who are you?" She asked in pain. He approached her "I'm Adam" He introduced. She laughed away the pain "No demon name? Like Uzriel? Or Maglizeth? Something like that?" She asked. Adam shook his head "No, just Adam" He replied. His voice was soothing, nothing too sharp or dull. He seemed ordinary, but that was the trick. He looked into her eyes with a deep stare "So...how would you like to die?" He asked. Rene laughed "Peacefully" She replied. Adam shook his head "Unfortunately, we can't do that" He replied. Rene pulled on the chains, but that made the pain worse "Wouldn't do that, the boss gets irritated when people make a lot of noise" He informed. Rene looked at him and roared in his face. Adam closed his eyes as the air of the roar brushed his face "Well..." He stated as he wiped the spit off. 

A huge, red beast entered the room "Oh shit..." Rene whispered to herself. The chains released, which dropped her to the floor with a thud. The beast approached her and lifted her by her face. His hands were that big that it cupped her entire face. His face was formed as a lizard, horns pierced out the sides of his face, the tongue was long. Rene tried to break free "This one was just like the other" The beast informed. Adam stood nearby "Cassie?" He replied. The beast hummed "Hmm, yes...Cassie" He hissed. Rene shut her eyes and whimpered as the beast pulled her closer to his face. He sniffed her then dropped her to the floor "I like to play with my food" The beast finalised then stomped out of the room. His feet were three long, sharp claws, the body was hulk-like. Rene pushed herself into the corner and cowered her face into her knees.

The grand magus looked at the students "Which one is closer with Rene?" She asked. Everyone looked back at Randall, who raised his hand "He's practically her boyfriend" Lilith informed. Randall blushed "She's not my girlfriend!" he defended. The grand magus pulled him over and tied a rope around his waist "What's this?" He asked. She looked up "To pull you and Rene back out" She informed. Randall kept a holt of the rope as the grand magus opened the portal. She chanted Latin, then a red diamond-shaped portal opened and revealed a dark corridor. Hamish looked at Randall "Bring her back safely" He encouraged. Randall nodded and jumped in. 

He looked around the corridor to find different doors. Each door had a slot which he peered into. Most revealed skeletons or were empty "Shit..." He muttered as he began to lose hope. He stared into the last room and saw Rene lying down in the corner. He opened the door and walked in "Rene?" He called from the door. She sat up slowly in disbelief "Randall?" She questioned. He smiled with relief. She got onto her feet and bolted towards him, but he was pulled back by someone. Rene exited the room to see Adam and a few other cultists. 

The grand magus saw the rope moving around madly "Right, that's it, I'm pulling him out" She informed. Hamish and Lilith aided. Randall began to slide back towards the portal "Rene!" He shouted as he reached out his hand. Rene began to run but was pulled back "Randall!" She screamed. Randall was metres away from the portal and panicked, he turned his body which forced him to stop. Rene burst out from their grasp and scrambled for Randall. She jumped into his arms then he let the pulling take over. He had successfully pulled her out. 

The grand magus closed the portal and looked at the two. Lilith pulled Rene up and slapped her arm "Don't ever do that again!" She shouted. Lilith sighed and pulled her into a breathtaking hug. Hamish looked at Randall and sent him an approving nod. Rene looked at Randall and leapt into his arms "Thank you" She hummed. Randall rubbed his hand through her hair and embraced her "If you touch anything that speaks to you again, I'll kill you myself" He joked. Rene looked at Hamish who had a look of hopelessness upon his face "Can I talk to you?" She asked. Lilith folded her arms "This can't be good" She replied. 

Rene pulled Hamish to the corner "Listen when I was inside that place. Someone was mentioned who I've heard of" She started. Hamish furrowed and placed his hands in his pockets "Cassie..." She mentioned. Hamish's face dropped "How?" He asked. Rene bit her lip "The cultists called this beast the boss, he mentioned that I smelt like Cassie" She informed. Hamish turned white then looked off. Rene jumped to attention "But you don't have to answer" She informed. Hamish shook his head "No...you have the right to know" He informed. He sat her down on chairs next to a grand bookcase "Cassie was my girlfriend...she had Timber. You have the ambition like she did, I see a lot of her in you. Obviously I don't have the feelings, but I want to protect you, make up for what I couldn't do for Cassie. She was sucked into the book after hearing the voices" He replied. Without saying a word, Rene wrapped her arms around him. He was taken back by the action but hugged her back anyways.